Crate-feeding mechanism for bottle-washing machines



Nov. 3,1925- 1,560,374 Y W. W. BIRNSTOCK CRATE FEEDING MECHANISM FOR BOTTLE WASHING MACHINES Filed'Nov. 10, 1923 attoznelf Patented Nov. 3, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM w. nrnnsroo c, on storm, rnnivsviivanm, ASSIGNOR 'ro YORK MILK-MA? omnnnv COMPANY, or YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION "or Pr mers VANIA.

CRATE-FEEDING MnonA- vrs v ron BOTTLE-WASHING MACHINE-S.

Application filed November 10, 1923. Serial No. 674,025.

To a]? whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, *1 ran TVs Bum STOCK, a citizen oi the UnitedStates, residing at York, in the county of York and State oi Pennsylvania, have inventednew and useful Improvements in Grate-Feeding lrlechanism for Bottle lvashing Machines, oi which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to bottle washing machines and analogousapparatus and more particularly to machines of the kinds suitable for washing milk bottles while such bottles are contained in crates;

The primary object of the invention is to provide novel, simplified and improved means, adapted for use insuoh machinesfior feeding or advancing the crates of bottles intermittently or step-by step through the machine, whereby the cratesot bottles are successively snbjectedto-the action of cleansing, rinsing or other washing or cleaning devices therein,the crate-feeding means provided'by the present invention being simple and inexpensive in construction and opera tive to eflicientlyadvance the bottle containing crates through the machine in such manner that a dwell or idleperiod is'provided following each crate-advancing operation and preceding the next crate-advancing operation, which' dwell provides ample time for the washing devices within themachine to act on thebottles which are positioned opposite to them and to attord the attendantampic time to place the bottle containing crates in position to enter the machine preparatory to each crate-i eeding operatiointhe advancing movement of the bottle eontaining crates, however, taking place rapidly. I

To these and other ends, the invention consists in certain improvements and combinations and arrangement of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully describetlfthe features'ot novelty being pointed out parti'cu'- larly in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the accompanying drawings?- "Figure 1 is aperspecti ve-view of a-bottle washing machine embodying crate-advancing means constructed in accordance with the present embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2- is a detail view of the crate-advancing mechanism showing the latter at the limit'of its return stroke;

is a view' similar to Figure :2

Figure 0 erally to bottle washing machines and anal-' ogous apparatus and more particularly to machines ofgthe kinds used for the cleansing or washing of milkibottles, while contained in inverted position in crates, itheinvention providing novel and improved means for feeding or advancingthe vbottle containing crates intermittently orstep-by-step through the machine, thus positioning the bottles successively in position to be acted upon by cleansing, washing and similar; devices. The preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing-and will be hereinafter described in detail. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not restricted to the-(precise construction shown, as equivalent constructions are contemplated and suchwill be included within the scope of the claims.

In the present instance, the invention is shown applied to a machine adapted for the washing oi milk I bottles the i machine comprising generally a suitable framework 1 which maybe appropriately constructed of channel iron and angle iron ,members, the frame supporting a feed table Qwvhich may extend horizontally through the machine and may be of any snitahleor well known kind for guiding and supporting vbottle crates in machines of this general type. Preterablyithe feed tablecomprises angle iron members-which extend longitudinally through the machine andserve to guide a row of crates 3. during theirpass'age through ject the same into the open mouths and over the exteriors of the washed bottles contained in the crates positioned above these headers; or the header 8 may be connected to receive steam or hot water for sterilizing the washed and rinsed bottles. A pump 9 is preferably provided which has its inlet 10 connected to receive washing solution from the tank 1 and its outlet connected to force the washing solution to and through the headers 6; and a second pump 11 is preferably provided which has its inlet connected to receive rinsing water from the tank and its outlet connected to force the rinsing water to and through the headers T and 8, or the header 7, when the header 8 is used for sterilizing purposes. The shafts of the pumps 9 and 11 are preferably alined and connected by a suitable coupling 12 and suitable means is provided for driving the pumps, as, for example, an electric motor 13 which may be connected by a coupling 1 1 to the adjacent pump, the pumps and motor being preferably mounted on a suitable bed 15 arranged alongside of the machine.

Chambers 16 and 17 may he provided above. the crates and the headers below them to catch the washing and rinsing solutions and to return the same to the respective tanks 4: and 5, and suitable doors or covers (not shown) may be provided to enclose the chambers 16 and 17, and the crates beneath them, to prevent escape of the washing and rinsing solutions to the exterior of the machine.

The crate feeding or advancing mechanism embodying the present invention is arranged at the crate-receiving end of the ma chine and it operates upon each bottle containing crate as the same is placed on the receiving end of the feed table to advance this crate a predetermined distance and in so doing to cause the row of bottle containing crates on the feed table to advance a step through the machine, it being preferable to so construct the feeding or advancing means that each operation thereof will cause the row of crates to be advanced a step, which will bring each crate in the row into the position previously occupied by the next preceding crate in the row, and following each retractingstroke of the feeding or advancing mechanism a dwell of substantial duration occurs which affords a prolonged period for the action of the cleansing and washing devices upon the bottles contained 1n the crates positioned opposite to these devices and for the draining of the bottles which are shifted out of the zones of operation of the washing and rinsing devices, as well as to provide ample time for the attendant to place a crate of bottles for introduction into the machine prior to each feeding operation. Preferably and as shown in the present instance the crate feeding or advancing mechanism comprises a cross head 18 which may be in the form of a shaft which is mounted to reciprocate in slots 19 which are formed in the vertical sides 20 of angle irons 21, these angle irons being sub stantially alined with and constituting in effect continuations of the table 2, the slots 19 being of isuflicient length to enable the cross head 18 to reciprocate a distance sufficient to advance a crate, located in front of it so as to bring this crate into abutting relation with the rear end of the row of crates contained in the machine and to advance the entire row of crates a distance equal to the length of the table which is occupied by a crate. Means is provided for reciprocating the cross head 18 to effect its crate-advancing stroke, to innnediately retract the cross head and to then provide a relatively long dwell or idle period during which the cross head is in its retracted position, leaving the space in front of the cross head in readiness to receive a crate of bottles. The means provided by the present invention for accomplishing this result comprises a rocker which consists preferably of a frame embodying side members 22 and a suitable connecting cross member 23, the side members being pivotally connected at their lower ends to the main frame. 1 of the machine by a cross shaft 24; which is supported by suitable brackets 25, and the opposite or upper ends of the side members 23 are formed with for wardly directed extensions 26 which, dur ing the swinging motions of the rocker about the. axis ofthe shaft 24. as a center, swing at the outer sides of the angle irons 21. The upper portions of the side members 22 and the extensions 26 thereof are formed with substantially angular slots 27, portions 27 of these slots being radial to the rocker shaft or pivot 24, or substantially so, and the portions 27 of these slots being arcuate or substantially concentric with the rocker shaft 2 1. The ends of the cross head or shaft 18 at the outer sides of the angle irons 21 project through the slots 2'7 of the respective side members 22 of the rocker and may be provided at their extremities with beads 28- to abut against the outer sides of the members 22 and thereby retain the cross head or shaft from displacement.

Means is provided for swinging the rocker about the shaft 24 as an axis and through a predetermined angle. Preferably this is til accomplished by a pitman 29 which is pivotally connected at one end of the rocker by the cross shaft 30 and is operatively connected at its opposite end to'the pin 31 of a crank The crank is preferably rotated with a regular motion and at a suitable speed from a shaft 33 to which the crank is fixed, and the shaft 33 may be driven from any suitable source of power. 1t is preferable, however, to drive the rocker actuating mechanism from the shaft of the adjacent pump 9, this being accomplished, in the construction shown, by cotmecting a worm shaft 34: by a coupling 35 to the shaft of the adjacent pump 9, the shaft 3i having a worm 36 thereon which meshes with a wormwheel 37, the latter being mounted on a shaft 38 which serves to drive a pinion 35), the latter meshing with a gear 40 fixed on the crank shaft 33. A friction clutch or slip drive may be interposed betweenthe shaft 38 and the pinion 89 to allow the shaft 88 to, .revolve idly and thus avoid damage to the machine, should the operator improperly introduce a crate into the machine or introduce a broken or distorted crate which would cause jamming of the crates. The rocker-driving mechanism comprising the shafts 33, 3t'and 38, the worm 3b and worm wheel 37 and gears 39and 40 are preferably mounted and enclosed within a casing 112 which may be mounted on the bed 15 and may contain oil or other lubricant.

The mode of operation of the crate-feed ing mechanismembodying'the present in vention and constructed as hereinl'iefore described, is as follows: \Vhen the crank is swung into its extreme left-hand position, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the rocker also is in its extreme left-hand positiointhe cross head or shaft 18 being then. fully retracted and resting in the extreme forward ends of the. portions 27 of the slots in the rocker. The space on the crate feed table in advance of the cross head is then ready to receive a crate. As the crank swings toward the right, due to the revolution of the shaft 38, the pitman 29 swings the rocker toward the right, about the shaft2 i as an axis. During the first part of this swing of the rocker, the portions 27 of the slots therein operate idly past the cross head, leaving the latter stationary in its extreme retracted position until the portions 27 of the slots reach the cross head, as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 8, whereupon the rocker will pick up the cross head and will cause the latter to make a forward stroke in its guiding slots 19, the forward stroke of the cross head continuing until the rocker and the crank have reached the extreme right hand position, as shown by the full lines in Figure 3. The radial portions 27 of the slots in the rocker compensate for the rectilinear movement of the cross head and the arcuate swing of the rocker. As the. crank 32 continues to revolve, it- -swings toward the left,'caus1ng the rocker, in consequeiice,

to also swing toward the left, and during this return movement of the rocker "the pertions 27 of the slots thereincause thecross head or shaft 18 to retract until the junctions of the portions 27 and Eli ot the slots are reached, as is represented by the dotted lines in Figure 3, whereupon continuet'l rotation-of the crank 32 will cause the rocker'to swing to its extreme retracted position, as shown in Figure 2, and during this part of the return stroke of the r cker, the portions 27" of the slots inthe rocker operate idly past the cross head, leaving the latter in its fully retracted position. From the foregoing, it will be understood that while the crank 32 is drivencontinuously with a regular motion and the rocker, in consequence,

swings to-and-fro with a regular motion,the 7 cross head while operating in the portions 21 of the slots, recelves a rapt-d forward and return movement WllllGtllQ final portion of the return stroke of the rocker and "the 0 initial part of the following forward stroke thereof take place while the cross head is operating in the portions 27 of the slots,iand hence these portions of the return and forward strokes of th rocker are idle, in consequence of which a dwell or;idleperiod of the cross head is provided while the cross head is in its fully retracted position. This dwell in the operation of the cross head affords ample time for the operation of the cleaning and rinsing or other washing de vices upon the crates o'fbottles positioned opposite to them, beforebeingfadvanced, so that these operations are performed the r oughly, and a substantial period of time afforded while the cross head is in retracted position, during which period the attendant may introduce a crate of bottles for introduction into the machine, preparatory to each advancing operation of the feeding mechanism. i if I claim as my. inventionz g 1. In a machine of the class described coniprising a feed table along which a row of bottle crates is adapted to be advanced, crate-feeding mechanism comprising a member adapted to reciprocate longitudinally of the table, and a rocker having means for imparting swinging movements to said rocker, said rocker having means which connects it with said member and which is operative to impart a crate-advancing stroke thereto and to retract said member during the to-ands fro swinging movements of the rocker toward one end of its range of movement and to provide a dwell in the operation of said member during the to-and-fro swinging movements of the rocker toward the other end of its range of movement.

2 Crate-feeding mechanism for machines ion of the class described comprising a feed table for the crates, a cross-head guided to reciprocate longitudinally thereof, and a rocker mounted to swing to-aud-fro and having an operative connection toward its free end with the cross-head whereby the toand-fro swinging movement of the rocker toward and from one end of its range of movement will cause advancing and return strokes of the cross-head and to-and-fro movements of the rocker toward and from the opposite end of its range of movement will take place while the cross-head remains idle at the end of its retracting stroke.

3. Crate feeding mechanism for machines of the class described comprising a cratefeeding table, a cross-head guided to reciprocate longitudinally thereof, and a swinging rocker having slotted portions toward its free end cooperative with the cross-head to advance and retract the cross head while the rocker is swinging toward and from one limit of its swinging movement and to allow the cross head to dwell in its retracted position while the rocker is swinging toward and from the opposite limit of its swinging movement.

4. Crate feeding mechanism for machines of the class described comprising a crate feeding table, a cross-head. guided to reciprocate longitudinally thereof, and a rocker pivoted to swing relatively to the table and having an angularly-shaped slot. toward its free end which cooperates with the crosshead, one portion of said slot cooperating with the cross-head, during part of the swing of the rocker, to cause crate-advancing movement of the cross-head and another portion of the slot cooperating with the cross-head during another part of the swing of the rocker, to produce a dwell in the operation of the cross head.

5. Crate advancing mechanism for machines. of the class described comp-rising a crate feeding table, a cross head reciprocable longitudinally thereof, and a rocker pivoted to swing relatively tothe table and having an angularly shaped slot toward its free end, one portion of the slot cooperating with the cross head, while the rocker is swlnging toward and from one end of its range of movement, to impart advancing and retracting strokes to the cross head, and another portion of said slot cooperating with the cross head, while the rocker is swinging toward and from the other end of its range of movement, to cause the cross head to dwell in its retracted position.

6. Crate advancing mechanism for machines of the class described comprising a crate feeding table, a crate advancing member guided to reciprocate longitudinally thereof, and a rocker mounted to swing relatively to the table and having a slot toward its free end, a portion of which is substantially radial to the axis of movement of the rocker and another portion of which slot is substantially concentric with said axis, said slot coopeating with the crate advancing member to impart advancing and retracting movements thereto while the rocker is swinging to and fro through part of its range of movement and to cause a dwell inthe ope 'ation of said member while the rocker is swinging to and fro through another part of its range of movement.

7. Crate advancing niechanisn'i for machines of the class described comprising a crate feeding table having longitudinally extending slots in its opposite sides, a cross head extending through said slots and reciprocable longitudinally therein, a rocker comprising members pivoted to swing relatively to the table and having their free ends arranged to operate at the outer sides of the table, the free ends of said rocker members having slots which cooperate with the respective ends of the cross-head, each slot having. a portion which extends substantially radially of the pivot of the rocker and another portion which extends substantially concentrically of said axis and means for imparting to-and-fro swinging movements to the rocker.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand.

VILLIAM lV. BIRNSTOUK. 

